Modano: Partying with Pantera made Stars late to '99 Stanley Cup parade

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VERNON BRYANT / Staff Photographer

Former Dallas Stars goalie Ed Belfour waves to the crowd during a special presentation for Belfour before a Dallas Stars game against the Minnesota Wild at American Airlines Center in Dallas, on February 4, 2012. The ceremony honored Belfour and his induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Former Stars center Mike Modano spoke with ESPN2's DLHQ on Wednesday. Here are some highlights:

On the happiest moment of his hockey career:

“Watching that puck go in when Brett Hull scored in '99. I think that was the ultimate prize. I think that was a total sense of relief. I think when there is a lot of pressure on a guy coming in to elevate your team and be successful in the playoffs, and to finally give that back and to win a championship for your organization that you started with and ended your career almost with, '99 was without a doubt a magical year. We ran the board. We cruised through playoffs.

On the Stanley Cup celebration:

“We spent a lot of time at Vinny Paul’s house, he was one of the members of Pantera, for about four days straight. That took a little bit of wind out of our sails for a bit. We showed up about an hour late for our parade so it didn’t go over too well with the city and the police that were waiting for us. We thought what the heck, this could be our one and only chance that we have winning it so we’re going to do everything possible that we can. We’d go home and shower and we’d come back. We had to reload the fridge and the coolers that’s for sure. It was tough getting all the cars and anybody who could drive sober to the city so we had to get about 15 to 20 limos taking everybody down, and we finally got down there.”

On the worst moment of his hockey career:

“I think retiring. That was the hardest thing, just letting go of something you love and that you’ve grown up with and that’s been part of your career and life for 35 or 36 years. It was very difficult and harder than I thought it was going to be. I tried to play for as long as I could so emotionally and mentally I was drained from the game and physically that I could walk away. But still you have those moments that you’re sitting at home watching the games in playoffs that part of you thinks that you made that decision but part of you still misses it.”

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